UnBound Memories

A/N: nette, no need to worry. I haven't given up on this story. I continue to update it, but honestly, I'm getting so many responses for my FMA story, I try to make sure that I update that one as close to daily as I can because the people reading (you included) are letting me know what they like and what they don't. In other words, I'm getting a ton of reviews and trying to keep reviewers happy. I've said before, I'm a review-whore.

And, for anyone who's reading who doesn't like OC, I'll warn you, I've got a couple of them coming, one in this chapter. I tried to avoid them, but this is how the story is just working out.

Chapter 26

Katsuro

Sesshomaru stood in his chambers in front of a rather large mirror, dressed only in his white hakama. Ten days had passed, and the daiyoukai had only a few hours until he had to face the whole of the inu clan, not just his own portion, but the families of his father’s cousins, demons and demonesses who sought the title of Lord and Inu no Taisho for their own branch of the clan. The demon lord looked over his form, analyzing it carefully.

“You are not showing yet,” Miroku said, kissing the back of the demon’s shoulder while his formerly cursed hand darted around to Sesshomaru’s abdomen, rubbing over the toned stomach, claws tickling the muscles beneath. “Gomen, I have yet to get accustomed to them.”

“At least you are comfortable with your fangs,” Sesshomaru said.

“I had to learn to be. I was beginning to lose too much blood from repeatedly biting my tongue.”

Sesshomaru smiled at his mate, pulling Miroku’s clothed body flush against his own back as he grabbed the hanyou’s arms and wrapped them around his own body. Sesshomaru varied from moments like these when he enjoyed being with his mate to those when he simply wanted to avoid all contact with everyone. Feeling certain it was the hormones, it was irritating to know his own emotions were not under his control, particularly after so many years of having them so closely guarded.

“Sesshomaru, would you do me the honor of bearing my children?” Miroku said with an amorous smile.

“You are a bit late in making such a request. It would seem I am already with pup, thanks to my mate.”

“He must be a lucky mate,” Miroku said as he laid his head onto Sesshomaru’s shoulder, his twitching ears faintly tickling the lord’s cheek. “You are quite beautiful, surely a god rather than a demon.”

“Is this how you once approached women?”

“Possibly.”

“It is no wonder you have never managed an heir until now.”

Miroku pouted a bit, nipping at the skin at his mouth, forcing Sesshomaru to find a better use for that mouth. He pulled Miroku to face him, pressing their lips together, smiling into the kiss.

“How are you feeling?” Miroku said when they parted

“That the term Kagome uses for the nausea, ‘morning sickness,’ is a lie, as the nausea lasts throughout the day. But the tea that Kagome made and the plant that Kouga retrieved from the North have both been working, so neither my stomach nor my youkai feels weak at the moment.”

“I am glad,” Miroku said, wrapping his arms around his still-taller mate’s neck. “I would take this all on for you if I could.”

“I know you would,” Sesshomaru said, moving his own hands to Miroku’s ears, rubbing them gently, enjoying the slight whine that escaped the former monk’s lips.

The initial anger that came with the shock of the pregnancy had faded, how could it not, with the hanyou catering to Sesshomaru’s every need? And, despite the times that he had no desire to be beside Miroku, sometimes even look at him, it could be chocked up to the pregnancy rather than his own fury. Thankfully, Sesshomaru’s youkai had found itself a perceptive mate, who understood when the demon wanted space as well as when he had cooled down enough to return to this affectionate state. It was rather nice to have someone so attuned to Sesshomaru’s thoughts and emotions that he knew how to anticipate every mood swing--and they had begun, much to the taiyoukai’s chagrin.

“Do you feel strong enough to transform if the need arises?” Miroku asked, releasing his hold around Sesshomaru’s neck.

“Hai,” Sesshomaru said as he moved to retrieve his haori and obi. “And you must remember that under no circumstances are you to use any of your own demonic powers.”

“I still have the kazaana,” Miroku said.

“Yes, though I would prefer you not try to use it inside of the palace. I am rather attached to some of my furniture.”

“Was that a joke, Sesshomaru? I believe you might be developing a sense of humor, though I think it might be a bad one.”

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes, pulling on the remaining items of his clothing and armor and finally his mokomoko. A few strokes of the soft fur with his hand, he was reminded of how the pelt had been his way of seeking comfort when he was a child and his father was away at war. Comfort had never been something he could find with his mother, as the woman had never been intent on offering it. Looking at the boa-like pelt, Sesshomaru wished it had been given time to grow back out before being cut again to supply Miroku with his own. It was now nearly a foot short in the back and felt somewhat out of balance on the inu.

Sesshomaru glanced over his shoulder at Miroku, who seemed to just be realizing that he was not wearing his own. The handful of white fur laid on the bed where the hanyou’s clothes had been, untouched. The dark inu took hold of the pelt, which turned black at his touch and wrapped itself around his waist, a piece dangling down to his right knee. His, like InuYasha’s, was also for decoration, though it eliminated the need for an obi on the black and purple clothing. It also meant that the former monk could wear full armor and his mokomoko if necessary, with far less difficulty than either Sesshomaru or his son, though Miroku admitted to feeling awkward in the guise of battle. To accommodate, Sesshomaru ensured he wore only enough to signify his place and nothing heavy or restricting.

Strapping on his own armor, Sesshomaru looked one more time in the mirror, not wanting to admit that his nerves were gradually getting the best of him.

Miroku stood at his side, placing a hand at the small of the taiyoukai’s back, in an attempt to calm him. It worked on one level and made things worse on another.

“We must be wary of our body language,” Sesshomaru said. “Though I appreciate the gesture, you cannot stand beside me as you are now once we leave this room.” Miroku nodded. “It is time for us to be leaving.”

Together, the two mates left the room, Sesshomaru placing himself just in front of Miroku’s right side, looking very protective, in a way that made Miroku’s own youkai--which the former human found obnoxious at this best--ruffle. He was the one to protect his mate, not the other way around. It had been a long ten days of training himself not to treat Sesshomaru like he was expecting and to accept that very treatment from him, and he still hated each moment they were in public together.

“We will need our weapons tonight, as a display of strength, particularly to my cousin, before we deposit them near our seats in the great hall,” Sesshomaru said. “I believe Kagome has already received her gift from InuYasha.” Sesshomaru led Miroku to the armory room in the family wing. “In the corner, I believe you will find a weapon that should be to your liking.” Miroku directed his eyes to a shakujo resting in the corner. “Bokusen'on was quite happy to hear that I had regained myself, and I had taken a mate. He willingly gave up a limb for the staff.”

“This is why you were missing your fangs? You were so angry when I first noticed, then so secretive about it…”

“Yes. It took both of my fangs.”

Miroku held the staff in his hand, testing its weight, balance, and his own speed with it, enjoying hearing the sound of the jangling of rings at the top. He’d forgotten how much he missed them.

“You may not feel much like a monk because of your lechery or our relationship, but your spiritual powers say otherwise.” Sesshomaru folded his arms across his chest. “Though for my own peace of mind, I made a modification to the traditional shakujo. Command it to transform.”

Miroku did as Sesshomaru asked, though what he was commanding it to transform into was still beyond him. The staff shifted into a naginata, the blade at the top looking similar to a small Tessaiga. He knew how to use this weapon, but had never considered it necessary.

“Though the shakujo is sharp and will serve you in battle, sometimes something that looks more frightening can be as much of an advantage in intimidating your enemy.”

“Totosai made this?”

“Yes. He was admittedly surprised to find out who my mate was, but much like Bokosen’on, was merely grateful that I am not, and here I quote InuYasha, ‘a cold-hearted bastard.’”

Miroku made the staff return to its traditional form, and walked with it by his side as he had done with his old staff before it, at his mate’s side, wrapping his left hand in Sesshomaru’s, fingers laced.

They found the rest of their family, extended or otherwise waiting in the library, the only room with guaranteed security with the number of guests that now filled the greatroom and halls of the palace. Sango, Hitomi, and Kohaku had all come, as had Kouga, Ginta and Hakkaku. Jaken nervously fretted over Rin and Shippo, reminding the children repeatedly to say nothing of who was expecting the pup, and to speak only on vague terms when speaking of the new child. Rolling his eyes, InuYasha stood beside Kagome, who was admiring the ivory-white bow made from her mate’s fang.

This was an alliance among the group to say nothing of Sesshomaru’s pregnancy and to do everything that was within their powers to protect the secret from coming out, meaning they would never allow Miroku to leave Sesshomaru’s side for more than a moment, even if pulled away by some well-meaning clan member. The closer the two mates were, the more their scents would blend, and that was key tonight. Discussions took place on ways to ensure the two were not separated and how to return one to the other, but Miroku couldn’t help but feel that Kouga was watching him.

“You won’t be able to hold hands like that,” Kouga said. “The monk keeps wanting to put himself in front of you.” Kouga grabbed Miroku’s hand and wrapped it around Sesshomaru’s arm. “In this position, your youkai should be pacified that it is close enough to protect your mate, but it looks like you are clinging to him, which if you were a true beta and knocked up,” Sesshomaru scowled down at the ookami, “you likely would for your own safety in a crowd full of powerful full demons.” Kouga stepped back, looking the mates over, seeming satisfied that the impression was as he’d said.

“Why do you help us?” Sesshomaru asked. “You have lost your desired mate to my son and still you help.”

“Aside from the fact that I want Kagome to be happy and living in the lap of luxury?” Kouga said, looking over at Kagome with a defeated smile. “Lord Sesshomaru, you allowed me to help fight Naraku, even when the only one of us you needed was Kagome. You let each of us take our opportunity at the bastard, though you could have handled him on your own. On top of that, my pack is seriously depleted. Those I normally traveled with have been killed off by Naraku, and it is known that your clan doesn’t like that my family rules the north. Since my uncle’s overthrow of the wolf leaders there, we have had a hell of a time finding an alliance. Even in the east, where my tribe originated, we have found no one willing to admit that our small tribe is not only strong enough to maintain the north, but that we are doing a good job with it. I need an alliance with a powerful force, and I would prefer it to be with a demon I respect.”

“If I manage to retain my title,” Sesshomaru said, “I guarantee you that alliance.”

********

The mating ceremony began with the two sets of new mates greeting the members of the clans, many of whom were shocked to find that InuYasha was, in fact Sesshomaru’s son and heir. That obviously disappointed many who seemed to have intentions of taking over the title upon Sesshomaru’s death. Seeing how power-hungry this so-called family was, Miroku did his best to merely cling to his mate’s arm, certain at times he was cutting off the circulation to the large hand at the bottom.

Still, the plant Kagome and Kaede had ordered Kouga to retrieve had helped to at least temporarily restore Sesshomaru’s youkai, and there was no denying the taiyoukai was the strongest and most powerful in the room, if not on the planet. The simple fact that, at the moment, Sesshomaru’s demonic aura was not being drained by their child was enough to make Miroku somewhat less protective of him.

At the dinner, Sesshomaru sat, keeping a close eye on a single, empty seat next to a man he called uncle, but was a first cousin to his father.

“Who is it that is missing?” Miroku asked. “You are concerned.”

“My cousin Lord Katsuro.”

“The one who is next in line after InuYasha?”

Sesshomaru nodded. “He is not absent by accident. I do not like this.”

Uneasily, the two ate their meal, only to have a bit of a commotion interrupt the completion of the dinner.
A tall, muscular inu walked into the great hall, bowing deeply before raising his head up. This inu had much shorter white hair pulled into a top knot, wore a rich green haori and hakama that both barely covered his thick, masculine body. From the distance with his improved eyesight, Miroku could see this inu’s eyes were the color of deep green jade. His face had sharp angles, a wide jaw, broad forehead. Though he seemed shorter than Miroku now was, there was the impression that standing next to him, Sesshomaru might well seem dwarfed by the man’s sheer size in width.

Sesshomaru rose from his seat, Miroku following instinctively. “Cousin.”

“Please forgive me, Lord Sesshomaru, Inu no Taisho,” Katsuro said, bowing once again. “Gomen, my lord, but I feared my gift to you and your mate would not get here, as it was stopped along the way by some treacherous onis.”

“I only hope that your meal is still enjoyable.”

Katsuro’s eyes darted down to Sango and the other humans. “I never anticipated the day when we would dine with humans. Usually humans made their appearance in another form at dinner.”

Startled and disgusted for a moment, Miroku looked up at Sesshomaru, clutching to his mate.

“Never in this palace. And never past these lips.”

Miroku felt relief wash across him, apparently strong enough that Sesshomaru had picked up on it, looking over at him, eyebrow arched, silently questing if Miroku truly thought him capable of eating humans. With a slight pursing of his lips in disappointment at the hanyou, Sesshomaru turned back to his cousin.

“These humans are my guests, part of my pack, as far as I am concerned.”

“And the filthy ookami?” Katsuro asked, as Kouga seemed to be repressing a growl.

“Loyal and seeking an alliance, which I plan to give.”

Those large green eyes looked Miroku over appraisingly. “And you have taken a hanyou as your mate?”

“When I took him as my mate, he was a mere human,” Sesshomaru said. Miroku didn’t quite understand why he had to keep rubbing that in the faces of his pure-blooded family, but the older inu seemed to enjoy it. “He was a monk and his desire to be with me was strong enough that forces outside of his own made him a hanyou. So strongly does he want to be with me,” the taiyoukai said, moving his left hand to Miroku’s stomach, “that he is already nearing the end of his first month with pup.”

The hanyou placed his own hand over Sesshomaru’s trying to recall the way he’d seen expectant mothers behave. He then nuzzled his cheek to Sesshomaru’s mokomoko, rather enjoying the downy-soft fur against his skin. Sesshomaru looked down at him, a slight surprise at Miroku’s docile behavior showing in his features. With a slight smirk, Miroku looked up at those amber orbs, then over at a somewhat impressed Kouga. Yes, he had managed to quell his youkai, convincing it that this was the only way to guarantee his mate's safety and secret.

“And this, is this not your brother who now bears the heir mark?”

“If it were my brother, Lord Katsuro,” Sesshomaru said, “he would not have it. He is my son, my eldest. He may have been rather unexpected and raised by my family, but I consider him the match for most any demon.”

“As next in line to the title of Inu no Taisho and the western lands, I would like to see a demonstration of this pup’s abilities.”

“Pup!” InuYasha said, jumping from his seat, his temper getting the better of him.

“Pup,” Katsuro repeated. “I would also be curious what your little pet is willing to do as well.”

Miroku couldn’t repress the growl--something that would have escaped his lips even as a human for such an insult--at being called Sesshomaru’s pet.

“I am more than capable of fighting without using my weakening youkai,” Miroku stated, defiantly looking to Katsuro. Then, looking up those few inches to Sesshomaru’s eyes, he asked, “I have seen you call forth hundreds of lesser demons. Would you be willing to do so tonight?”

Miroku’s right hand was practically itching to take on this inu, but he fought that urge, strong as it was, in favor of getting to show his power to this demon and all the others surrounding him who doubted his strength.

“Do you think that you two could handle a few hundred demons without getting yourselves worked into too much of a sweat?” Sesshomaru asked.

“Easily,” InuYasha said.

“It would make for a light work-out.” Leaning more closely to his mate, in a voice so soft it barely registered to his own ears, he asked, "I have no problems showing him my abilities, but why do you accept these insults?

"Because he would not be allowed to hurl them at us if he had not been given permission to from the clan elders," Sesshomaru replied, just as quietly. So the elders wanted the two marked inus to prove themselves? Then, they would do it.

The other members of the clan looked at the three inus in shock, not seeming to know who was boldest, Sesshomaru for claiming he was capable of calling forth that many demons, InuYasha for seeming to think that as a mixed-breed, he could wield Tessaiga skillfully enough to destroy them, or Miroku, as a supposedly weakened hanyou, who claimed to be just as capable.

Looking at the eyes intently on him, Miroku supposed he had won the title.